Tongue cancer

Tongue cancer is an aggressive oncological disease that in most cases progresses rapidly. It gives numerous metastases in the lymph nodes of the neck, liver, can affect the lungs and bone system. Oncology of the tongue occurs mainly in people 50-60 years old, affecting the male body several times more often than the female body.

Reasons of development

Among the main reasons that provoke the development of cancer, dental pathologies and the effect of poisonous vapors are distinguished.

There are also many factors contributing to the occurrence of this oncological pathology. First of all, it is:

• damage to the tongue, which can occur when the muscle is mechanically affected by teeth or prostheses. The cause of damage is often an abnormal bite, teeth that grow incorrectly, inappropriate dental implants that press on the tongue and rub against its surface. Such systematic damage to the tongue can later turn into an oncological pathology;
• papillomaviruses – they provoke the development of a benign tumor, which carries the danger of turning into cancer cells;
• chronic stomatitis – damage to the oral cavity by bacteria or infection leads to inflammation, which sometimes flows into a tumor on the tongue;
• smoking and drinking alcohol. Carcinogens contained in tobacco smoke have an extremely harmful effect on tissues, increasing the risk of oncology. Alcohol accelerates this process;
• precancerous diseases – a number of diseases with a long course, especially without proper treatment, leads to the development of tongue cancer. Such diseases include: dysplasia, ulcer, lichen planus, and others.

Classification of types of cancer

The disease is classified depending on the shape, structure and location of the tumor. Several of its localizations are distinguished.

• cancer of the body of the tongue is the most common type. It occurs in 2/3 of all cases of oncology of this muscle organ, and is manifested mainly on the lateral surfaces of the muscle;
• cancer of the root of the tongue (oropharynx). This type of pathology accounts for a quarter of cases of the disease. Carcinoma of the oropharynx is very aggressive, because it is characterized by a rapid course;
• cancer of the lower part - a tumor under the tongue. It is extremely rare.

Several forms of neoplasm are distinguished:

• infiltrative, which develops mainly on the tip of the tongue, but can affect any area of ​​it, even the entire area: such a situation leads to immobility of the muscle. It is characterized by the appearance of nodular, painful compactions within the tissue, which are easily detected by palpation;
• ulcerative - the most common form. Ulcers on the tongue in cancer have the appearance of bleeding wounds, prone to peripheral growth. At the last stage of the ulcerative form, the tumor is a necrotic mass;
• papillary, when the neoplasm has the form of a slowly growing papilloma hanging on a stalk;
• squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is a fairly common type of malignant tumor. According to its histological structure, it is a carcinoma affecting the epithelial cells not only of the tongue, but also of the mucous membrane of the nose, mouth, larynx, and thyroid gland.

Other histological forms, such as adenocarcinoma of the root of the tongue, are very rare.

Tongue cancer: symptoms and stages

The signs of a malignant tumor are quite blurred and flow smoothly into each other, as a result of which the disease is detected late. Symptoms of tongue cancer vary depending on the stage of development of the disease.

Symptoms of stage I:

• small painless seals;
• white or brown plaque;
• cracks, ulcer formations on the tissues of the tongue;
• difficulty swallowing;
• enlargement of lymph nodes;
• excessive secretion of saliva;
• bad breath;
• muscle numbness.

Symptoms of stage II:

• increase in the size of formations, their germination into the tissue is possible;
• pain of varying intensity, burning sensation (the symptom is relieved by painkillers);
• bleeding ulcers;
• weak mobility of the tongue;
• strengthening of difficult swallowing.

Symptoms of stage III:

• tumor increase up to 2 cm;
• severe pain in the tongue, which radiates to the temple, forehead;
• excessive secretion of saliva;
• strongly impaired mobility of the tongue.

An advanced disease - stage IV tongue cancer manifests itself in the form of a large tumor that metastasizes to nearby organs. The tongue is enlarged, any movements are very painful. A person refuses food, feels constant weakness, loses weight.

Diagnosis of the disease

Most often, patients first consult a dentist. After the initial examination and detection of signs of pathology, they are referred to an oncologist. The examination begins with a visual inspection and muscle palpation. The next stage is conducting laboratory and computer studies:

• Ultrasound - it will show the size and shape of the tumor, the degree of damage to the tongue tissue;
• MRI/CT - these studies can detect cancer metastases;
• biopsies - a sample of pathological tissue taken for research is checked for malignancy by histological method.

Treatment of tongue cancer

Tactics of oncology therapy are developed taking into account the specifics of tumor development, condition and age of the patient. To combat the disease, a whole set of medical measures is provided. The patient may be prescribed radiation or chemotherapy, removal of pathological tissue. Features of the application of various treatment methods:

• radiation therapy is considered the primary type of treatment used before surgery to slow tumor growth;
• chemotherapy is used as an independent method or in combination with radiation therapy;
• surgical removal of the tumor is prescribed in the first stages of cancer development.

Often, surgery is combined with radiation therapy, which is prescribed:

• before surgery - to slow down the growth of cancer cells;
• for their complete destruction - after surgical intervention.

When the tumor grows into the oral tissue and bones, they are resected (removed). In the future, it is possible to perform maxillofacial plastic surgery in order to restore the structure and functions of this area.

Prevention and prognosis

For patients in whom tongue cancer is detected early, the prognosis is positive. Modern diagnostics and complex treatment in 70-80% of cases contribute to recovery. If cancer therapy is carried out at an advanced stage of cancer, the treatment can be difficult and long. This indicates the importance of timely referral to a competent specialist for thorough diagnosis and detection of the disease at an early stage.

The number of basic preventive measures that can prevent the development of neoplasms include giving up tobacco and alcohol, timely dental treatment, eliminating the root causes of mechanical damage to the tongue, and oral hygiene.